Legal Consultation in Washington State

A consultation with a lawyer in Washington state is a meeting between a lawyer who is licensed in Washington and a person to discuss a legal problem the person has. A person might want to get legal advice from a lawyer about any number of things. However, some of the common reasons that bring people into lawyer’s offices for guidance are credit problems, landlord-tenant disputes, the need for a will and estate planning, or dissolution of their marriage.

What to Expect at the Initial Consultation with a Lawyer?

Often, Washington lawyers are willing to provide a prospective client with their first legal consultation at a low cost or possibly even for free. For example, at LegalMatch.com, a person can connect with a Washington lawyer and present their case completely free of charge. Other lawyers sometimes charge a modest consultation fee for a first meeting.

If a person is referred to an attorney by an attorney referral service in Washington, the service would usually quote a fee to the person, so they know what the charge for the attorney consultation is.

The purpose of a first meeting is to determine whether the lawyer handles the type of case the client has. If the case involves the area of law in which the lawyer practices, the next question would be what the lawyer would charge for their representation and whether the charge is something the client can afford.

The attorney and prospective client would discuss the client’s legal issue and whether the type of case matches the lawyer’s experience.

The client should also have a clear understanding of what the consultation fee is, as well as how and when the client should pay it.

On some occasions, the lawyer may be able to answer a person’s questions fully at their first meeting. But it is also possible that a person would learn that they need representation to complete a task, e.g., drafting a will, or filing a lawsuit, e.g., breach of contract for a business deal that went wrong.

For example, if a person was the victim of medical malpractice and suffered a serious injury, they may need to file a lawsuit. In this case, the attorney and client might discuss the terms by which the attorney would provide representation to the client.

Of course, one of the terms would be how the attorney would be paid. Lawyers generally charge an hourly fee. They keep track of the hours they spend on a case and charge for the total number of hours every month.

However, a medical malpractice case is a type of personal injury lawsuit. In personal injury cases, a lawyer usually charges a contingency fee. This means that the lawyer collects a percentage of any award of damages the lawyer wins for the client. If they do not win any damages, the lawyer earns no fee. In some cases, a lawyer charges a flat fee for a defined service.

While paying the lawyer would be a major concern for a client, it is not the only concern. A person also wants to know what the next steps in their case are, the role that the lawyer would play, and what the client’s role would entail. A client would also want to understand the possible outcomes of their case.

If the client decides to hire the lawyer, they would want to have a written contract that clearly expresses the terms of the lawyer’s representation.

Will My Legal Consultation Be Confidential?

An attorney who is licensed to practice law in the state of Washington is bound by the Washington Rules of Professional Conduct in their dealings with their clients. These rules provide, in part, that a lawyer may not reveal information that they learn from their client in the course of their attorney-client relationship.

The confidentiality of attorney-client communication is protected by the attorney-client privilege. In addition, attorneys cannot reveal information that they learn in the course of a legal consultation with a client if the client has asked that it be treated as confidential. So, a client may wish to confirm with their attorney that their discussions are confidential.

Even if a client does not ask specifically that their communications be treated as confidential, the attorney should never reveal anything they learn, especially if it would embarrass the client or if revealing the information would have a negative effect on their client’s interests.

There are exceptions to the attorney-client privilege. A lawyer may reveal information in order to comply with a court order. A lawyer may reveal communications if they have to do so while defending themselves in a criminal case.

Or, if the client brings a civil lawsuit against their lawyer, e.g., if the client sues their lawyer for attorney malpractice, the lawyer may have to disclose confidential client information. In these situations, a lawyer may be legally allowed to disclose confidential client communications.

A client might tell their lawyer that they plan to perpetrate a crime that could lead to substantial injury to a third party physically or financially. In that case, the lawyer may disclose this information to authorities.

There are other technical exceptions to the attorney-client privilege. But, again, at the beginning of their meeting with their attorney, a person may confirm that what is said in their meetings is completely confidential. The attorney should be willing to confirm this for the client.

How Should I Prepare for a Lawyer Consultation?

To prepare for a consultation with a lawyer, a person should do a number of things. First, they want to note the questions they wish to ask the attorney about themselves and the attorney-client relationship.

They might want to ask the attorney to confirm that their consultation is confidential. They might want to ask the attorney what the fee for the consultation is. In some cases, an attorney offers an initial consultation for free or for a low fixed fee, e.g., fifty dollars. A person should confirm what the fee is.

A person should gather together any documents they have relating to the issue they wish to discuss and take the documents with them to the meeting. They should write down the questions they would like to ask so they do not forget them.

They should make a list of people who would have knowledge of the incident or situation that is at issue in their case and the contact information for these people. A person wants to be ready to answer their attorney’s questions about the case that has brought them to the attorney’s office.

What Are Some Questions to Ask During a Lawyer Consultation?

Again, as noted above, a person would want to ask about the fee for the initial consultation and how and when it should be paid. If the person hires the attorney for continuing representation, they want to be sure they understand how and when the attorney is going to be paid. The client should have that information in writing.

The client wants to understand clearly what service the attorney is going to provide for them and what the result should be. So, for example, if a person hires an attorney to file for bankruptcy, they want to know that the attorney is going to represent them through the end of the bankruptcy process and do everything necessary to complete the bankruptcy.

Generally, a person should ask whatever questions they have. They should ask questions until they have a clear understanding of the terms of the attorney’s representation of them.

Are Lawyer Consultations Free?

Some attorneys may offer an initial consultation for free. However, no attorney is likely to offer continuing representation for free unless they are working with a non-profit, charitable organization that offers representation to people free of charge.

Another situation in which an attorney might not charge a client for their representation would be if the attorney is a public defender in a criminal case whom the state government pays to represent a defendant who cannot afford to hire an attorney to defend them in a criminal case.

As noted above, attorneys often provide initial meetings for free or at a low cost. A person should ask before they go to the attorney’s office for the meeting.

How Much Does a Washington Lawyer Cost?

How much an attorney charges in Washington depends on a number of factors, as would be true anywhere in the U.S. Attorneys in large, densely populated cities such as Seattle generally charge more than attorneys in rural areas and smaller communities.

Again, as noted above, attorneys generally charge in different ways in different types of cases. An attorney might charge a flat fee for a straightforward personal bankruptcy case. They might charge an hourly fee to represent a client in a business-related lawsuit, and they may charge a contingency fee in a personal injury lawsuit.

An attorney who has an excellent reputation in a community may charge more than a younger, less experienced attorney who may not have a reputation. A more experienced attorney who has a reputation for success in a particular area of practice, e.g., personal injury law, may charge a higher fee than an attorney who is less experienced and may not have established a reputation for success.

In addition, the final charge for a case depends on the facts and circumstances of each case. Some cases require more of an attorney’s time and entail higher expenses than other cases. For example, if a case requires the contribution of expert witnesses, the client would have to pay the cost of hiring the expert, as well as other costs.

Should I Contact an Attorney and Schedule a Legal Consultation?

If you have a legal problem that you would like to discuss with an attorney, you want to consult a local attorney in Washington. In most cases, the fee would be minimal. It is possible that your questions about your problem could be answered in one consultation. Or, if your issue requires continuing representation by a lawyer, the consultation would help you understand your next steps and what a lawyer can do for you going forward.

One great option is to present your case to a LegalMatch.com attorney who lives in your area. The service is completely confidential and costs nothing. If you need continuing representation, your attorney responds with an offer to represent you that comes with a complete attorney profile, details on their fee structure, their background, and ratings from other LegalMatch users. With this information, you should be able to decide if the attorney is the one for you.